La Liga: A Champion Meeting in Ciutat

Levante vs Barcelona

As La Liga contests go, this SBOTOP scribe believes this could be as one-sided as they come. The Spanish champions travel to the side that won last season’s Segunda Division, so, effectively, they were a division apart until a few weeks ago.

Yet there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic for La Liga 2025 highlights, as the newly promoted frogs tackle such illustrious opponents.

 

Talking Points

Levante can be quite a stubborn side, and they have been keen to strengthen following their success last term.

Their biggest arrival in terms of a transfer fee has been Jon Ander Olasagasti from Real Sociedad as Julian Calero’s side bids to make it back-to-back seasons at this level for the first time since 2022.

They will be without the services of Alfonso Pastor through injury this weekend and will be hoping exciting additions such as Olasagasti, Kervin Arriaga, and Jeremy Toljan, as well as Goduine Koyalipou and Alan Matturro, can pass fitness tests. Toljan, who made his debut against Alaves last weekend and scored their goal in a 2-1 defeat, is again set to be included.

By contrast, Barca picked up where they left off by starting the new term with a 3-0 win at Mallorca.

Marcus Rashford was registered just in time to make his debut and was watching from the bench when Raphinha headed them into an early lead from close range.

The luckless Mallorca went close to an equaliser a few times but never managed to draw level and Ferran Torres added a second soon afterwards, smashing a superb shot into the top corner.

With a home player down injured, the goal probably should have been disallowed. From that moment on, Mallorca lost their cool, and there was no way back.

The game petered out with Lamine Yamal adding a third deep in stoppage time against the hosts, then reduced to nine men.

Goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen remains unavailable for selection due to a back injury, but Robert Lewandowski has trained this week, and the prolific Pole should be in the squad.

Barcelona scored 102 league goals en route to winning the La Liga title convincingly last season, and their imminent return to their iconic Nou Camp home next month should be a big boost. How they would love to return home with an early 100-per cent league record.

 

History

On paper, Barcelona’s league record against Levante is strong, with only three defeats in 32 La Liga encounters. Indeed, they have only lost six of their previous 45 matches,

However, a closer look at their recent visits to the Ciutat de Valencia tells a different story.

Since 2018, in all competitions, the Catalans have managed just two wins there, suffering three defeats with a further draw in the process. Levante’s relegation in 2022 temporarily removed one of Barca’s trickiest away fixtures.

The most recent encounter between the two sides dates back to April 2022, when Xavi Hernández’s Barcelona came from behind to secure a 3-2 win. Their scorers that day were Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Pedri, and Luuk de Jong, with a last-minute header, after penalties apiece from Jose Morales and Gonzalo Melero for the home side.

Five times overall have Levante tasted victory against the mighty Barca (they have also managed five draws), most recently in La Liga in November 2019 when a second-half super show turned the match in their favour.

After a Lionel Messi penalty put the Catalans ahead, Levante scored three times in seven second-half minutes to turn the match around and win 3-1 – Jose Campana, Borja Mayoral, and Nemanja Radoja were the marksmen.

Although Levante have never won on Barca turf, they have given them a tough time on occasion in Catalonia, including when the sides shared six goals in May 2021.

Barca led 2-0 and 3-2 courtesy of goals from Messi, Pedri, and Ousmane Dembele, but the spirited hosts fought back through Melero, Morales, and Sergio Leon.

 

Betting Tip

Levante are rank outsiders with the La Liga 2025 betting odds that price them 1X2 @ 7.80 and Asian Handicap +1.50 @ 2.20. That contrasts to Barca, who could barely be more fancied, both 1X2 @ 1.25 and Asian Handicap -2.00 @ 2.21.

If the game ends level pegging, the draw @ 5.70 would earn you a tidy sum.

A five-goal thriller, just as when the sides last met, is on offer @ 22.00 with Correct Score 2-3. Deflated by a last-gasp defeat to Alaves upon their return, it’s hard to see the home side getting anything out of the Spanish champions, and the most attractive tip I can give you is Half Time Full Time Away @ 1.83, though Total Goal 2-3 @ 2.39 has a certain appeal.

   

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